He said: "The Government’s tax credit changes do send a signal and we get the message loud and clear – if you are in work and on low to medium pay the Tories are not on your side.

"It is a kick in the teeth for working families to hear Jeremy Hunt patronisingly say that the reason they are struggling to pay the bills is because they are not working hard enough. When the truth is his government is ruining family finances right across Britain.

"Labour has warned time and again that these tax credit cuts will hurt millions of ordinary working people, yet the Tories are digging their heels in. It’s not too late to change course and Labour will be fighting these cuts to tax credits the whole way."

Fiona Weir, chief executive of single parents' charity Gingerbread, said: “Jeremy Hunt’s comments that the tax credit cuts send a “cultural signal” shows that, as well as being regressive, the government is deeply out of touch on this issue.

“This unhelpful language further demonises those that are reliant on vital welfare payments, many of whom already have a job. In the case of single parents, two thirds are in work but rely on tax credits to top up low wages."